Butter-cutting machine.



No.. 804,563. PATENTED NOV. 14, 1905n E. F. STEWART.

BUTTER CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10. 1904.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@ff-ML. 4

PATENTED NOV. 14, 1905.

E. F. STEWART.

BUTTER CUTTING MACHINE.

APyLIoATIoN FILED SEPT. 1o, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

dfn/wanton ww E... M m www@ PATENTED NOV. 14, 1905.

R. STEWART. BUTTER CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLoATIoN :911.1511 512mm, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

lt/(onwaar No. 804,563. PATENTED NOV. 14,1905. B.. F. STEWART.

BUTTER CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10. 1904.

SHEETS-SHEET 4.

H I E RICHARD F. STEWART, 0F POCNTICO HILLS, NEV YORK.

BUTTIEFl--CUTTENG lVIACl-llNlE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1905.

Application filed September 10, 1904. Serial No. 223,982.

Be it known that I, RICHARD F. STEWART, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Pocantico Hills, town of Mount Pleasant,county of iVestchester, State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Butter-Cutting Machines, of which the followingis a specilication.

The present invention relates to machines for cutting and molding blocksor prints of butter of different size and weight from a mass of butteras it comes from the tubs or lirkins without packing or pressing thebutter during the cuttingI and molding operations so as to destroythegrain of the butter or express therefrom the juice or liquorcontained in the original mass.

The object of the invention is to provide an organized machine capableof receiving a mass of butter which is to be cut up, dividing it intoslabs or bars, molding and shaping' such bars to the proper size, andthen subdividing the bars into blocks or prints of the desired size andweight in an expeditious and economical manner, the machine for the mostpart being automatic in its action.

1n the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiication, and inthe several views of which like reference-numerals refer to like parts,Figure l is a plan view of the complete cutting and molding machine.Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the vertical cutter, showing the same indotted lines inclined or tilted to permit the butter to be put on thebed. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the vertical cutter. Figs. 4 and 5are enlarged views of one of the keys or fastening' devices by which thecutting wires on the vertical cutter are secured to the cutting-frame.Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional side views of the longitudinal cutting andmolding mechanism through the line 6 6, Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an enlargedview of the top unlocking and plunger-stopping devices on the cuttingand molding boX. Fig'. 9 is a side elevation of the cutting mechanismfor the longitudinal cutter. Figs. l0, l1, and l2 are sectional sideviews of the longitudinal cutting and molding box, showing' the moldingand regulating mechanism by which the butter is molded and the size andweight of the cut blocks are adjusted. Fig. 13 is a perspective View ofthe molding and adjusting plate. Fig. 14 is a side view of the adjustingdevice for regulating the distance between the cuttingwires on thelongitudinal cutter. Figs. l5 and 16 are side and edge vlews, re-

spectively, of the keys for securing the cutting-wires.

In forming butter into blocks 0r prints it is very desirable that theblocks shall be cut from the' original package without pressing and thatall packing or crowding into molds be avoided, so that the grain of thebutter may be preserved uninjured and all the original liquid or juiceretained, and it is essential, moreover, that all the blocks or printsshall be of one uniform weight and size. ln the present improvement themass of butter as it comes from the tub o1l other similar package is cutinto long slabs or sections or may be molded or formed Yfrom fragmentsof slabs or sections or small pieces of butter into such long slabs,which slabs are then cut into blocks of the desired size,and thiscutting and molding is effected without pressing or packing the butterso as to injure its grain or press out its juice and so as to insure theformation of blocks of a certain uniform size and weight.

In the particular construction of machine here shown and described thebutter mass is iirst cut vertically into slabs or sections by thevertical cutter shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This cutter consists of acutting-frame l, across which are stretched the cutting-wires 2, Fig. l,so adjusted and arranged as to cut the slabs of butter of a width andthickness to form blocks or prints of the size and weight desired. Thiscutting-frame lrests on and is attached to the frame 3 by the cornerhooks or buttons 4. The attachment of the cutting frame is such that itmay be readily removed and another frame having a different adjustmentof cutting-wires substituted in its place when it is desired to alterthe size of the cut slabs of butter. On the corner hooks or buttons 4are spring-posts 5, which hold the hooks inplace and at the same timepermit a yielding of the cutting-frame as it is drawn through thebutter. The frame 3 is supported on the two upright side bars 6, whichare preferably provided with racks by which it is moved up and down andthe cutting-frame drawn down through the blockof butter. As will be seenfrom Figs. 2 and 3, the lower ends of the rack-bars are held in and passup and down through guides 7 on the bed of the machine, by which theyare maintained and guided in an upright position as they move, and themovement of the bar on each side is rendered regular and even and thecutting-frame thereu by held in a horizontal position as thecuttingwires are drawn through the cutter. Sup- IOO IIO

ported on the frame 7 between the bars 6 is the support or table 8, onwhich the butter rests as it is cut` which table may be of any suitableor desired construction. To facilitate the placing of the block orpackage of butter on the bed or table 8, the rack-bars, together withthe frames when raised to their uppermost position, may be tilted to oneside, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

To permit the cutter-frame to be readily tilted without entirelyremoving it from the guide 7 or disengaging the driving connectionbetween the rackbars 6 and their driving-gears, (presently to bedescribed,) the lower ends of the said bars 6 are cut away or roundedoff, as at 60, (see Fig. 2,) so that when the cutter-frame has beenraised to its uppermost position the ends of the rack-bar 6 may turnwithout binding in the guides 7 the rackbars and cutter-frame rocking onthe drivinggears as their pivotal points, as will be apparent from thedotted-line position of the tilted cutter-frame shown in Fig. 2. Vhenthe cutter-frame is in tilted position, it rests against the springbrace or support 9, which is pivoted to the machine-frame, and the lowerend of which extends beneath the table 3 and bears against thedriving-shaft 11, on which are mounted the gears 10, which serve toactuate the side bars and raise and lower the cutterframe. It will beseen that by means of this pivoted spring-brace a locking action issecured when the frame is in tilted position and resting against theupper end of the brace 9, for the weight of the tilted frame will causethe lower end of the brace 9 to bear against the driving-shaft 11 andprevent its rotation when the frame is in tilted position, so thatdanger of accidental rotation of the shaft 11 and throwing out of thecutter-frame from its guides 7 is eliminated. The bars 6, as has beenstated, are raised and lowered and the cuttingframe drawn through thebutter by the gears 10 on the ends of the shaft 11, journaled in theguides 7 on the machine-frame, which mesh into the racks on the bars.The shaft 11 is turned through the engagement of gears 12 and 13 by theshaft 14, which is operated by the crank 15 at the front of the machine,Fig. 1. The cutting-wires are secured to the cutting-frame 1 by theadjustable supports or clamps 16, in which are mounted yielding keys orfastenings 19. (Illustrated in Figs. 4 and As there seen and as shown inFigs. 2 and 3, these clamps 16 inclose the outside of the frame 1 andare attached to the latter by the screws 17. 1n the bottom of thesupports or clamps 16 is a sleeve or recess 18, in which is the key orhook 19, to which the cutting'- wire 2 is attached. This hook isthreaded at its outer end and screws into the thumb-nut 20. Surroundingthe key or hook 19 and inclosed between the wall ofthe recess and thethumb-nut is a spring 21. As the spring acts on the key. or hook 19 itproduces a yielding bearing on the hook, and consequently on the wireattached to the latter. as the frame and wire are drawn down through thebutter, thus forming a yielding pressure on the wire, while maintainingthe cutting tension of the latter. To vary the tension of the wire, thekey or hook 19 is adjusted by the thumb-screw, as desired, and alongitudinal adjustment given to the wire, without, however, twistingthe wire, the hook or `key 19 engaging a slot 611 in the clamp 16, sothat rotary movement of the hook or key is prevented and twisting effector disengagement of wire from the key is prevented. By this constructionthe breakage of the cutting-wires in Apassing' through the butter isavoided, and, furthermore, the tension of the wires accommodate eachother, and where they cross one another should one wire have a greatertension than the wire below it the upper wire will yield or give and notinjure the wire below.

Then the slabs or sections of butter have been cut from the original tubor package in the manner described, they are placed in the nlongitudinal cutting-machine to be cut into block or prints of the sizeand weight desired. This longitudinal cutting-machine consists of theoblong mold-box 22 of a size to receive the slab of butter cut by thevertical cutter. The box is open at one end and is provided with a lidor hinged top 23, and beyond the open end is a tray or stand 24, whichreceives the slab of butter as it comes from the box and on which itrests as it is cut into the small blocks or cakes. The depth of the boxis greater than the thickness of the slab of butter as the latter iscut, so that when the slab of butter is placed in the box and the topshut down there will be a space between the butter and the under side ofthe top, as shown in Fig. 6, and the butter can pass or slide freelythrough the box without being forced or subjected to pressure. The top23 is held down on the box by the cross-piece 25, which swings under thehooks 26 at each side of the box and is provided with a counterweight 27to facilitate the opening and closing of the top. The cut slab of butteris pushed or slid through the box by the sliding head or plunger 28,operated by rack-bars 29, engaging with the pinions or gears 30 on theshaft 31. This latter shaft, as shown in Fig. 1, is operated by aworm-gear 32 on a shaft 33, extending' along the side of the box andrevolved by beveled gears 34 and 35, turned by the shaft 36. Therack-bars 29 are held in engagement with the gears 30hy the wheels 37 onthe under side of the top 23. Then the top is closed and fastened down,the racks are pressed down on the gears and the engagement of the two isinsured. As the top is raised the pressure of the wheels 37 on therack-bars is removed and the rack-bars are released from theirengagement with the gears, thus disconnecting the sliding head from theoperating mechanism.

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To prevent the butter-forming head or plunger being slid too far forwardin pushing` the butter from the box and injuring the mechanism, I employthe unlocking device shown in Fig. 8. The ends of the racks 29 arejoined by the cross-piece 38, on one end of which is a verticalprojection 39, Fig. 8, so situated as to come in contact with a slidingbolt 40 on the top of the mold-box 23. Therother end of this bolt is inContact with the cross-piece as the latter rests upon the hook 26 inholding the lid down on the box. When the sliding head 28 has beenpushed forward by the racks 29 as far as it is desired to slide thebutter from the box or has traveled a predetermined distance, theprojection 39 on the back end of the rack strikes the bolt 40, and,pushing it in, slides the cross-piece 25, with which it is in contact,out from under the hooks 26, thus automatically unlocking the lid 23 andallowing it to be raised slightly by the counterweight 27 The raising ofthe lid removes the pressure of the wheels 3l from the racks 29. At thesame time the cross-piece 38 is raised by a projection 41 on aspring-support 42 (presentl y to be described) and the racks lifted fromtheir engagement with the pinions 30, and the further movement of thesliding head 28 is stopped. The sliding head is therefore disconnectedfrom its operating mechanism when it has reached the end of its strokeor has been pushed as far as desired and its further outward movementprevented. although the shafts and gears may continue to turn.

At the rear end of the mold-box is a springsupport 42, on which theprojection 41, hereinbefore referred to, is preferably mounted. Thisspring-support 42 bears against the under side of the cross-piece 38 andserves to hold the rack-bars 29 out of engagement with the driving-gears30 when the top 23 of the mold-box is elevated and the rack-bars 29 arerelieved of the pressure of the wheels 37 on the under side of the top23. When the top 23 is closed and locked, the rack-bars 29 will ofcourse be forced down into engagement with the gears 30 against theupward pressure of the spring-support 42. Immediately the automaticunlocking mechanism releases the top 23 the spring 42 disengages therack-bars 29 and holds them elevated during the return movement of theplunger.

When used with the long slab of butter cut by the vertical cutter, thehorizontal box above described merely holds and guides the butter as itis pushed onto the cutting table or tray by the follower, therebyinsuring' the bar of butter moving straight and even through the box andits being cut into regular and equal blocks. It is sometimesfound,however, that slabs of butter of the same size vary in weight, andtherefore to make them correct weight it is necessary to increase ordiminish the size of the slab by adding some butter to or removing itfrom the slab. This adjusting of the size` and consequently of theweight, of

the slab of butter is performed in the box of this horizontal cuttingmechanism and is effected by means of the regulating and adjustingdevice 43. (Shown particularly in Figs. 10, 11, and 12.) This consistsof a movable section or plate 43, having' a thickened end to give it anangular lower surface, situated at the top of the box, preferably at ornear the orifice thereof and back of the lid 23. This regulating-plate43 is supported and adjusted by the screws 44 at both ends, which passthrough the supports 45 on each side of the box. As will be seen fromthe drawings, by means of these screws 44 either end of theregulating-plate may be elevated or depressed and the plate thereforeinclined in either direction and at any angle or may be held level orhorizontal, as desired. The ends 46 of the supports 45 are bent downwardin such position as to abut against the rearward end of plate 43, andthereby form a brace for the latter and relieve the screws 44 of anyside strain.

Then the butter in the box is a slab cut the exact size and weight, theadjusting' and regulating device 43 may be raised and held horizontalabove the butter without touching it, or preferably the rearward end ofthe plate 43 may be adjusted so as to touch the surface of the butterwithout pressing, Fig. 6, and thereby hold the slab of butter down as itpasses through the box. In these cases the mold-box merely guides theslab onto the cutting-tray and insures the cut block being even andregular. When it is'found that the cut blocks of butter are not of theweight desired, and consequently that the size of the butter must beadjusted, the rearward thickened end of the regulating-plate 43 towardthe open orifice of the box is raised or lowered, as is found necessary,to adjust the weight. If the weight of the cut block is found to be toogreat, the rearward end of the plate is depressed the desired distanceto cause the angu lar lower face of the plate 43 to press on the butterand scrape off or remove enough of the latter to reduce the size of theslab to the weight desired. If, on the contrary, the blocks or prints ofbutter are found to be below the weight desired, the rearward end of theplate is raised above the surface of the slab of butter and some loosebutter placed on the top of the latter, which is pressed into the butterby the plate 43 as the slab passes under the edge of the plate, and thusincreases the slab to the size desired. It will be seen,ltherefore, thatthe size, and consequently the weight, of the slab of butter is adjustedby the thickened rearward end of this regulating-plate 43 as the butteris pushed and guided through the box.

In addition to the function of holding and guiding the previously-cutslab of butter as it passes onto the cutting-tray the box of thehorizontal cutting mechanism also molds or- IOC IIO

forms pieces of butter into a solid homogeneous slab, adapted to be cutinto blocks or prints. This operation of molding the slab of butter inthe box is shown in Fig. 7. The fragments or pieces of butter left fromcutting the slabs or sections from the mass of butter in the tub areplaced in the box, together with small pieces of butter laid on top ofthe slabsections, and the lid 23 closed and fastened, thus filling thebox, as shown in the drawings. As the butter is pushed forward by thehead 28 and passes under the molding-plate 43 the latter pushes theloose butter in between the pieces or sections of butter in the box,thus lling up the crevices or interstices and molding the whole into asolid slab, and, furthermore, accomplishing' this without pressing orbreaking the large sections or pieces of butter in the box. It is verynecessary that this molding of the butter into the solid slab beaccomplished without pressing the butter so as to injure its grain orpress out the liquid or juice, and, further, that the bar be of thedesired size and weight. Both these opera* tions are performed by theplate 43, the adjustment of the forward end of the plate, andconsequently the inclination of the latter, regulating' themolding-pressure on the butter and the adjustment of the rearward enddetermining the size and weight of the bar. Both these adjustments andoperations are performed independent of each other. To mold the butter,the forward `end of the plate is adjusted at the desired position,depending on the character of the butter. As the butter is then pushedunder the inclined plate the interstices between the pieces of butterare filled and the butter molded and formed into a solid compact slab,and the size, and consequently the weight, of the slab is determined bythe position of the rearward end of the plate. The molding-pressure ofthe plate is thus adjusted independently of and without affecting theadjustment of the rearward end of the plate, which regulates the sizeand weight of the completed slab. Hence it is thus possible with thisimprovement to mold or form the slab of butter without regard to thesize or weight of the latter or to adjust the size and weight of theslab independently of the molding of the latter. The under side of theplate 43 is preferably formed with an inclined projection 47, so as givean angular lower face and assist the molding operation on the butter.The pressure of the butter by the long inclined surface of theprojection 47 is gradual and even, producing just the required pressureto form the butter into the slab without unduly pressing it or injuringits grain. As the butter is pushed through the box the small pieces ofbutter are thus molded into the single strip or slab of the requiredsize and of just the weight desired. The box is made water-tight, andany water or juice that may be pressed from the butter is held in thebox and is reabsorbed by the butter as it passes from the box.

As the butter comes from the horizontal box it passes under amarking-roller 68, which is adjusted by the screw 69. This roller isprovided with indentations 70, which form on the surface of the bar ofbutter raised edges to indicate where the cutting-wires pass through thebar to cut the desired size of blocks. As the slab of butter leaves themoldbox and passes roller 68 it is preferably divided into bars by afixed cutterwire 7l, mounted at the delivery end of the mold-box, thelower end of said wire engaging a pin or lug 76b on the under side ofthe box, while its upper end is fastened to an adjustable plate 72, bymeans of which it may be given a limited adjustment. (See Fig. 16.)

rlhe cutting mechanism by which the strip of butter resting on the tray24 is cut into blocks consists of a horizontallyslidingframe 48 and 49,holding the vertical cutting-wires 50. The frame is moved back and forthon its bed by the gear-wheels 5l on the shaft 52, which is turned bybeveled gears 53 and 54, operated by the shaft 55 and crank 56. To cutthe butter, the frame is moved back and forward, so that the wires 50pass through the strip of butter and cut the latter' into blocks,openings 57 being formed in the tray to permit the passage of the wires.The wires 50 are held in posts 58, around which they are coiled, whichposts are mounted in plates 59, secured to the front piece 49 of theframe. The posts are turned by the wheels 60, which engage with theworm-screws 6l, turned by the keys 62. By this means it is possible todraw and hold the wires very taut.

To insure the cutting-wires passing through the butter at linesindicated by the ridges and marked 70, it is sometimes necessary toadjust the position of the wires and at the same time maintain an equaldistance between them. Adjustment of the wires 50 is accomplished by thefollowing mechanism: Below the front 49 of the frame and supported byplates 63 on each side of the latter is a rod 64, capable of beingturned in its supports. On this rod are a series of loose carriages 65,corresponding to the number of wires 50 through which the wires pass.Within the carriage and fastened to the rod so as to tui'n with it areworm-screws 66, and on the carriages are fingers 67, engaging with thethreads of the worm-screws. As will be understood from F ig. 14 of thedrawings, as the rods 64 are turned, turning the screws 66, the fingers67, engaging with the threads of the screws, slide the carriage 65 alongon the rod. Beginning at the middle of the rod the threads of theworm-screws are cut in reverse directions, so that the carriages willmove away from the middle toward each side of the frame, and,furthermore, the pitch of the threads of the screws varies from themiddle to each side, so as to secure a dilferential movement of thecarriages or supports for the cutting-wires, whereby the outer support65 moves quicker and farther than the support next to it and the latterquicker and faster than the center support, so that the relativedistances between the wires is preserved while they are separated fromor brought toward each other.

While I have shown and described a particular construction, it isobvious that numerous changes may be made and other mechanicalexpedients adopted without departing from the spirit of my invention,and as all such variations in construction are clearly within thepurview' of my invention I do not limit myself to any of the detailsshown and described except in so far as I am limited by the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. In a butter-cutting machine the combination with a mold-box toreceive the butter, means for forcing' the butter throug'h saidmold-box, butter molding and shaping means in said mold-box, a fixedcutter at the delivery end of said mold-box to divide the butter intobars, and a set of cutters movable across the line of movement of thebars as they issue from the mold-box to divide the bars in prints.

2. In a butter cutting and molding machine, the box l, through which thebutter passes as it is molded; the molding and regulating plate 43 onthe top of the box at or near its orifice, adapted to be adjusted atboth ends, as and for the purposes set forth; and mechanism whereby thebutter is caused to pass through the box, substantially as described.

3. In a butter cutting and molding machine, in combination, themolding-box l, through which the butter passes; molding' and regulatingplate 43 situated at the top of the box, at or near its orifice, adaptedto be adjusted at both ends, as and for the purposes set forth;mechanism whereby the butter is caused to pass through the box; and acutting-frame, provided with adjustable cutting-wires, by which thebutter is out into blocks of equal weight, substantially as described.

4. In a butter cutting' and molding machine, in combination, themolding-box l, through which the butter passes; molding and reg'ulatingplate 43 supported at the top of the box by the screws 44, by which theplate is adjusted at both ends, as and for the purposes set forth;screws 44 by which the plate is adjusted; mechanism whereby the butteris caused to pass through the box; markingroller 68 whereby the butteris marked ofi' into blocks; and a cutting-frame provided with wires, bywhich the butter is cut into blocks, substantially as described.

5. In a butter cutting and molding' machine,

in combination, the moldingbox, through which the butter passes; lid 23having the brace 25 by which it is held down on the box; sliding head 28provided with the racks 29 by which the butter is caused to pass throughthe box; projection 39 connected to thc racks and arranged to engagewith the bolt 40 in the brace 25, whereby the pressure of the racks onthe pinions 30 is released, and the sliding head disconnected from itsoperating mechanism when the head has reached the end of its stroke;molding' and regulating plate 43, supported at the top of the box by thescrews 44, by which thc plate is adjusted at both ends, as and for thepurposes set forth; screws 44 by which the plate is adjusted;marking-roller 68, by which the butter is marked onf into blocks; andcutting-frame 48, 49, having the Vertical cutting-wires 50, by which thebutter is cut into blocks, substantially as described.

6. In a butter cutting and molding' machine, the combination withsuitable cutting' instrumentalties, of a mold-box, means for forcing'the butter through said mold-box, a molding' and regulating plate insaid mold-box adjacent the path of the butter, and means for changing'the angular relation of said plate to the surface of the butter.

7. In a butter cutting' and moldingmachine,

vthe combination with suitable cutting instrumentalities, of a mold-box,means for forcing the butter through said mold-box, a molding andregulating' plate in said mold-box adjacent the path of the butter, andmeans for adjusting' the ends of said plate independently to change theangular relation of the plate to the surface of the butter.

8. In a butter cutting and molding machine, the'combination withsuitable cutting instrumentalities, of a mold-box, means for forcing'the butter through said mold-box, a molding and regulating' plate havingan angular but'- ter-shaping face in said mold-box adjacent the path ofthe butter, and independently-adjustable supporting-screws at each endof said plate to changeits angular relation to the surface of thebutter.

9. In a butter cutting and molding' machine, the combination withsuitable cutting instrumentalities, of a mold-box, means for forcing thebutter through said mold-box, a molding' and regulating plate having anangular butter-shaping face in said mold-box adjacent the path of thebutter, and means 'for changing the angular relation of the plate to thesurface of the butter.

10. In a butter cutting and molding' machine, v

the combination with suitable cutting instrumentalities, of a mold-box,means for forcing the butter through said mold-box, and means forautomatically stopping the action of said butter-forcing means at apredetermined time.

11. In a butter cutting and molding machine, the combination withsuitable cutting instru- IOO ILO

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mentalities, of a mold-box, means for forcing the butter through saidmoldbox, driving' mechanism for said butter-forcing means, and means forautomatically disconnecting said driving mechanism and saidbutter-forcing means at a predetermined time.

1Q. In a butter cutting and molding machine, the combination withsuitable cutting' instrurmentalities, of a mold-box having a removabletop, means for locking said top in closed position, means for forcingthe butter through said mold-box, and means for automatically unlocking`said removable top after the said butter-forcing means has traveled apredetermined distance.

13. In a butter cutting and molding' machine, the combination withsuitable cutting instrumentalities, of a mold-box having acounterbalanced hinged top, means for locking said top in closedposition, means for forcing' the butter through said mold-box, and meansfor automatically unlocking said counterbalanced top to allow it to openafter said butter-forcing means has traveled a predetermined distance.

14. In a butter cutting and molding machine, the combination withsuitable cutting' instrumentalities, of a mold-box having acounterbalanced hinged top, means for locking said top in closedposition, means for forcing the butter through said mold-box, driving'mechanism for said butter-forcing means, means carried by said hingedtop to maintain said driving mechanism and said butter-forcing means inoperative engagement, and means for automatically releasing said top anddisengaging the driving connection between the butter-forcing means andits driving mechanism after the butter-forcing means has traveled apredetermined distance.

15. In a butter cutting and molding machine, the combination withsuitable cutting instrumentalities, of a mold-box having acounterbalanced hinged top, means for locking said top in closedposition, means for forcing the butter through said mold-box, means fordriving said butter-forcing' means, means carried by said top to holdsaid driving means and said butter-forcing means in operativeengagement, and means carried by said butterforcing means toautomatically unlock said mold-box top and disengage the connectionsbetween said butter-forcing means and said driving mechanism after thesaid butter-forcing means has traveled a predetermined distance.

16. In a butter cutting and molding machine, the combination withsuitable cutting instrumentalities, of a mold-box having' acounterbalanced hinged top, means for locking said top in closedposition, means for forcing' the butter through said mold-box comprisinga head or plunger and driving-racks therefor, driving-gears engagingsaid racks, means carried by said top to keep said racks and gears inoperative engagement, means to automatically unlock said top, and meansto automatically disengage said racks and drivinggears after thebutter-forcing' plunger has traveled a predetermined distance.

17. In abuttercutting and molding machine, the combination with suitablecutting instrumentalities, of a mold-box having a counterbalanced hingedtop, means for locking said top in closed position, means for forcingthe butter through said mold-box comprising a head or plunger anddriving-racks therefor, driving-gears for said racks, means carried bysaid top to keep said racks and gears in operative eng'agement, means toautomatically unlock said top, and means to lift said racks out ofengagement with said drivingg'ears after the butter-forcing' plunger hastraveled a predetermined distance.

18. In a butter cutting and molding machine, the combination withsuitable cutting instrumentalities, of a mold-box having acounterbalanced hinged top, means for locking said top in closedposition, a butter-forcing plunger having driving-racks in saidmold-box, driving-gears to eng'age said racks and force said plungerforward, means on said top to hold said racks in engagement with saiddriving-gears when the top is in closed position, means forautomatically unlocking said top, means for automatically disengagingsaid racks from said driving-gears after the butter-forcing plunger hastraveled a predetermined distance, and means for holding said racksdisengaged from said drivinggears during' the return movement of saidbutterforcing plunger.

19. In a butter cutting and molding machine, the combination withsuitable cutting instrumentalities, of a mold-box having acounterbalanced hinged top, means for locking said Jtop in closedposition, a butter-forcing plung'er having driving-racks in saidmold-box, driving-gears to engage said racks and force said plungerforward, means on said top to hold said racks in engagement with saiddriving-gears, when the top is in closed position, means forautomatically unlocking said top, means for automatically disengagingsaid racks from said gears after the butter-forcing plunger has traveleda predetermined distance, and a spring-arm to hold said racks disengagedfrom said driving-gears during the return movement of saidbutter-forcing plunger.

20. In a butter cutting and molding machine, the combination withsuitable cutting instrumentalities, of a mold-box having acounterbalanced hinged top, means for locking said top in closedposition, a butter-forcing plunger having driving-racks in saidmold-box, driving-gears to engage said racks and force said plungerforward, means on said top to hold said racks in engagement with saiddriving-gears when the top is in closed position, means forautomatically unlocking said top,

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movements to said supports, whereby the eutting-wires may be adjustedand their relative distances preserved.

22. In a butter-cuttin g machine and in combination, a cutter-frame,cutting-wires spanning said frame, and means for giving differentialadjusting movement to said wires, whereby their relative distances fromone another may be preserved.

23. In aloutter-cutting machine and in combination, a cutter-frame,cutting-wires spanning said frame, adjustable supports for said Wires, arotary worm-shaft, and reverselythreaded wormscrews having diiferentljhpitched threads mounted on said shaft to engage and move said supports',whereby ditferential movements may be imparted to said cutting-wires andtheir relative distances preserved.

24E. In cutting' mechanism for butter-cutting machines, the adjustingmechanism for regulating the distance between the cuttingwires,consisting of the rotating rod 64, having the worin-screw 66 securedthereto; carriages 65 loosely mounted on the rod 64, engaging withworin-screws 66, and carrying the cutting-wires, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

Signed by me at Pocantico Hills, New York, this 29th day of August,1904:.

, RICHARD F. STEWART.

Witnesses:

E. F. PORTER, WILLIAM H. EsTwIoK.

